The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-03-12
A WAR "REMINISCENCES.
low the Tennessee river MAS Brldssd In Twelve
Hours.


Cincinnati Times-star.
"A man could 20 through twenty
battles on 4 quarter the cold nerve
hat Andy Hickenlooper had to use in
one little episode with Mcpherson
down on the Tennessee river, when
there wasn't an enemy is sight" said
Capt. Jim Harper to reporter one
lay recently. zone evening about an
hour before shutdown Col. Hicken-
cooper was called to McPherson's tent
and informed that it was necessary
Tor the entire army of30,000 men to
be across the river and after the John.
MES by daylight next morning.
But, General. said Andy, there
ISN'T q stick OF timber within forty
miles big enough to carry all empty
eaisson, and the wagons with the pom
tons are ten miles back.
Cant help that, replied McPher.
son CURLY. The bridge must be built
and the army on the move before
o'clock tomorrow morning. Good
afternoon, Gen. Hickenlooper.'
~ left the tent and went down
to the river said Gen. Hickenlooper.
IN telling this experience not long ago,
and don't suppose man could be
in greater misery, mentally, than
was. walked up and down the
bank for an honr sizing up the situ-
alton. ! knew that, as chief OF the
Engineer Corps, | was expected TO
solve the problem some way; and
that to fail then was to lose all stand
ing professionally not only for the
war, but probably for all the future.
] think | must have sweat blood, if
such q thing were possible. Finally
/ wandered nearly half a mile up the
bank, and there, half a mile back, !
came across an old gin piled full Of
cotton. guess there MUST have been
2 1000 or 5000 bales. Ny shatpened
wits caught on right away. Why not
make n bridge OF tho cotton, using Tie
boards for Il roadway?
In thirty minutes had II large
detail OF men on the ground, and the
nights work commenced. We sunk
the bales with blg stones, laying two
tiers OF tour bales each clear across
the river, holding them in place by two
big cables stretched across on the
lower side. The boards of the gin
made n tClerable roadway, but at its
best it was an awful scaly Job. The
top bales were only about three
inches out of the water, and wasn't ut
all sure the cables would stand the
strain. Bnt Mt 3 O'Clock walked
up 10 McPherson's tent and
routed him out OF bed. How well
remember him lying there on his
elbow, holding up a match TO see my
face az approached his bunk. Gen
eral, the bridge is ready" Very well,
Colonel, "had passed before the match
vent out, and before | had walked
three rods from headquarters boots
and saddles" had been sounded and
the camp was n bedlam.
g" Il crossed the bridge and stood at
the edge OF the water, expecting and
dreading to see the cables part under
the terrific strain. Why, those cot
ton bales settled under the weight OF
the heavy guns until the water ran in
to the mouth of the cannon, but she
stood the test, and at ! 80 the last
wagon had made safe passage, and we
signaled ahead TO Mcpherson: IAN
over" In little while an orderly
came eslloping back to summon me
to Mcpherson, who was five miles
ahead by this time. When rode up
to my autocratic superior he saluted
and said: THAT was well
done, Colonel Now You 90 back
and cut the bridge loose and III tele-
graphite gunboats down on the Miss.
issippi to pick up the cotton for you
and your assistant engineer" !
thoughtthat was n lirst-class reward,
and OF course performed my part Of
work, concluded Hickenlooper."
What did the cotton bring him,
Mr.. HarperY"
mot a rsd cent. The gunboats
picked up the cotton all right, but
Andy never saw any OF the money for
it. 1t looks hard to tell man to
make something out of nothing, but
that's war. It's only in active field
service that a fellow learns the full
meaning OF the proverb, Necessity
knows no law As an engineer and
an ex.soldier, ! tell you I'd rather be
twenty times under fire than pass
through one SUCH snap as that winch
induced Gen. Hickenlooper to plan
and construct a bridge strong enough
TO carry six-mule wagons, loaded with
and ammunition, out oil
cotton bales, over a swift stream. in
less than twelve hours"